Twenty-three months +

ladygardner
ladygardner Member Posts: 15
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I am new to this board and have never attended local groups. I am 63, my mother died of breast cancer at age 42 - I was 17 at the time. So, I always had my mammograms - In Sept, 2004 I was diagnosed with BC - stage III. It was in my lymph nodes - 20 removed, 15 positive. I had a modified radical mastectomy and chemo and radiation. In April, 2007, I found a small lump in my remaining breast ( mammogram in Oct 2006) had a biopsy and May 10, 2007 I had a mastectomy - they did a test before they put me asleep - needle in the nipple and run dye to check lymph nodes - clean - contained to tumor. This time I had chemo and they told me they got it all. However, note this, it was a totally different type of BC - my first was hormone receptive - this was not.

My blood work continued good until April 2009 and the tumor marker test went high, so began the CT,MRI,PET scans. I had retired on disability in 1998 with back problems after working 35 years in the transportation industry so I had back pain and hip pain as a regular part of life. I had just had my left hip flare up and it turned out that I had cancer on the neck of my left femur - a lesion - they recommended a titanium cancer nail to support and prevent possible hip replacement should that bone break - so I had one inserted - they found a tumor on the right chest wall. All other tests were good, brain, liver, lungs etc. I had 25 radiation treatments and have just finished 4 chemo treatments. I was told stage four. I finally got up the courage to ask my prognosis and was told this week - 23 months - plus. I am dazed, and need encouragement. I am a fighter but I just about lost it all. They put me on morphine and it just about drove me nuts - I was an emotional wreck, could not remember anything, anyway they now have me on percoset which is working great and I am back to normal - memory is good - etc. I think they gave me to large a dose but anyway after my third chemo treatment I had lost a lot of weight and was so fatigued that I couldn't do anything - they considered the weight loss and reduced the amount of chemo and gave me a week off and I feel 300% better.

So, that's my story, prayer's would be wonderful and like experiences most helpful. God Bless.
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Comments

  • outdoorgirl
    outdoorgirl Member Posts: 1,565
    #2
    ladygardener,
    I am sorry about everything that you've been through. I couldn't imagine being in your shoes right now-though I think we all know that there's a possibility of that happening to us in our lifetime.
    All I can say is don't stop fighting!And enjoy life as much as you can.
    You have my prayers.
    Patty
  • rjjj
    rjjj Member Posts: 1,822 Member
    #3
    Lady Gardener
    Do not listen to your prognosis. You sound like a fighter, and nobody can guess how long you have. Plus I am sure your percentage of survival goes up with each treatment you do. I most certainly will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Keep the faith! you will make this.
    love, jackie
  • CR1954
    CR1954 Member Posts: 1,390 Member
    #4
    Dear ladygardner.....
    You have certainly been through some trying times. And we all know that you will have some real trials ahead. But you just mustn't give up hope. Hope is what keeps us all going, and without it, we would have no reason to WANT to continue in this life.
    We go through the fear and pain of all of our treatments in the hope that we will come out better on the other side
    Sometimes, no matter what we do, we hear things that we do not want to hear. But there is always the possibility that things won't be as bad as have been proclaimed. It happens every day. We can only hope....

    You will of course, be in my prayers. And I will also ask that whatever days we all have left to us, give us enjoyment and peace.
    Because nobody knows really, do they? Nobody can say with complete certainty how long a person has, short or long. So we must take advantage of what we have, and never let a day go by without appreciating what a beautiful g i f t it is.

    And please keep coming here, to the board. You can talk about what you are going through and we will be here to listen. We will hold your hand and be your friends.

    Big, gentle hugs,

    CR
  • Moopy23
    Moopy23 Member Posts: 1,751 Member
    #5
    Ladygardner
    I am so sorry to hear of the recurrence! It is a fear we all have. But, I agree with Patty and Jackie. Do not let the doctors' prognosis be the last word. So many times people surprise doctors and live many years beyond medical expectations. There is more than medicine involved in a person's life and destiny.

    My thoughts and prayers are with you.
  • taleena
    taleena Member Posts: 1,612 Member
    #6
    I am so sorry to hear what
    I am so sorry to hear what you are going through... but I agree with the others.... Unless you have an expiration date stamped across your forehead... the doctors are giving you statistical information... YOU ARE NOT A STATISTIC you are a woman... with a life, who is a fighter.. and who can hold on to hope...

    I am glad that they made modifications to your medications... and that you are feeling better... You will be in my prayers...

    Hugs to you my friend..

    ~T
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #7
    Moopy23 said:

    Ladygardner
    I am so sorry to hear of the recurrence! It is a fear we all have. But, I agree with Patty and Jackie. Do not let the doctors' prognosis be the last word. So many times people surprise doctors and live many years beyond medical expectations. There is more than medicine involved in a person's life and destiny.

    My thoughts and prayers are with you.

    Ladygardner, so sorry about
    Ladygardner, so sorry about your cancer coming back. But, you can fight it and we will help you! It is like someone said, there is no expiration written on you, there isn't on any of us. Noone knows when it will be our time. So, you fight and fight some more and prove them wrong! My prayers are with you!
  • Akiss4me
    Akiss4me Member Posts: 2,188
    #8
    Lady...
    A word of encouragement...When I had my surgery, my surgeon did not like the looks of my tumor and sent it off to be tested. Well, they ran the OncotypeDX test and they were expecting a very high score (due to visual). It turned out to be the lowest score recorded yet!! From 1 to 100 my score was less than a 1!! They thought there was a mistake so they rechecked the data, etc. No mistake. And as my shocked but excited surgeon said...."somebody has to be a first!"
    My point being that there are always exceptions. True, Doctors rely on data for their statistics, but they can't know for sure....it is only their best guess. Many people prove them wrong. I believe in miracles because I have been blessed in my life to have witnessed them. I believe it was a miracle that my score could have possibly been that low.
    Keep your chin up. Stay calm, be strong, and believe in miracles. You sound like a fighter, Lady, so get out there and show them that there are exceptions. We are here to walk with you and cheer you on when ever you need us to. And we are always willing to do it joyfully!! :) Pammy
  • bfbear
    bfbear Member Posts: 380
    #9
    Akiss4me said:

    Lady...
    A word of encouragement...When I had my surgery, my surgeon did not like the looks of my tumor and sent it off to be tested. Well, they ran the OncotypeDX test and they were expecting a very high score (due to visual). It turned out to be the lowest score recorded yet!! From 1 to 100 my score was less than a 1!! They thought there was a mistake so they rechecked the data, etc. No mistake. And as my shocked but excited surgeon said...."somebody has to be a first!"
    My point being that there are always exceptions. True, Doctors rely on data for their statistics, but they can't know for sure....it is only their best guess. Many people prove them wrong. I believe in miracles because I have been blessed in my life to have witnessed them. I believe it was a miracle that my score could have possibly been that low.
    Keep your chin up. Stay calm, be strong, and believe in miracles. You sound like a fighter, Lady, so get out there and show them that there are exceptions. We are here to walk with you and cheer you on when ever you need us to. And we are always willing to do it joyfully!! :) Pammy

    Hang in there
    Hi Ladygardner,

    So sorry to hear of your ongoing battle with the beast. Anything I would say has already been said. Don't take doctors' words at face value...there are all sorts of exceptions to the rules.

    I just said a prayer for you and will continue to do so. May you stay strong and have peace of mind.

    And please stay here and let us all know how you are doing. This is a good place to be for anyone with bc.

    With love and hope,
    Debi
  • RE
    RE Member Posts: 4,591 Member
    #10
    There is always hope!
    Let me tell you that the docs do not know for sure, it is an educated guess they are not God and cannot say for sure when your time here on earth will end. In 1997 I had stage 2 bc, had a lumpectomy 6 rounds of chemo and 6 weeks of rads, 6 months later it returned in my left chest wall and my sentinel lymph node, I was now a stage 4 with less than 35 percent chance of survival. I had 18 more rounds of chemo and 10 more weeks of rads.....I was cancer free for 9 years. It returned as a totally new and different form of bc in the opposite breast which I chose to have removed, I then did 4 more rounds of chemo. I have been in remission for 2 years and plan to enjoy every day I am here. I consider cancer a chronic illness that flares up now and again at which time I must fight with every ounce of my being to survive. Keep fighting Ladygardner and keep us updated, we are here for you and I will be praying for you!

    HUGS,

    RE
  • mgm42
    mgm42 Member Posts: 491 Member
    #11
    You've got them...... and more
    You have my thoughts, my prayers and whole lot more. I believe that prayer does help and you are going to be getting a boat load. Hang in there kiddo. Hugs, Marilynn
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    #12
    rjjj said:

    Lady Gardener
    Do not listen to your prognosis. You sound like a fighter, and nobody can guess how long you have. Plus I am sure your percentage of survival goes up with each treatment you do. I most certainly will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Keep the faith! you will make this.
    love, jackie

    You continue to fight!
    You continue to fight! Noone can guess or tell you how long you have. I will keep you in my prayers! Hugs, Noel
  • ladygardner
    ladygardner Member Posts: 15
    #13
    outdoorgirl said:

    ladygardener,
    I am sorry about everything that you've been through. I couldn't imagine being in your shoes right now-though I think we all know that there's a possibility of that happening to us in our lifetime.
    All I can say is don't stop fighting!And enjoy life as much as you can.
    You have my prayers.
    Patty

    Thank you Patty, I am
    Thank you Patty, I am fighting but just got so down and depressed. Thank you for the prayers - may God bless and keep you safe.
  • ladygardner
    ladygardner Member Posts: 15
    #14
    rjjj said:

    Lady Gardener
    Do not listen to your prognosis. You sound like a fighter, and nobody can guess how long you have. Plus I am sure your percentage of survival goes up with each treatment you do. I most certainly will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Keep the faith! you will make this.
    love, jackie

    Thanks so much for the great
    Thanks so much for the great encouragement - I am fighting but have never been such an emotional wreck before. I read somewhere about a lady who had stage IV and was an 11 year survivor, so that was encouraging. May God bless you for your kindness and prayers. I really need them.
  • ladygardner
    ladygardner Member Posts: 15
    #15
    CR1954 said:

    Dear ladygardner.....
    You have certainly been through some trying times. And we all know that you will have some real trials ahead. But you just mustn't give up hope. Hope is what keeps us all going, and without it, we would have no reason to WANT to continue in this life.
    We go through the fear and pain of all of our treatments in the hope that we will come out better on the other side
    Sometimes, no matter what we do, we hear things that we do not want to hear. But there is always the possibility that things won't be as bad as have been proclaimed. It happens every day. We can only hope....

    You will of course, be in my prayers. And I will also ask that whatever days we all have left to us, give us enjoyment and peace.
    Because nobody knows really, do they? Nobody can say with complete certainty how long a person has, short or long. So we must take advantage of what we have, and never let a day go by without appreciating what a beautiful g i f t it is.

    And please keep coming here, to the board. You can talk about what you are going through and we will be here to listen. We will hold your hand and be your friends.

    Big, gentle hugs,

    CR

    Thanks CR, you are so kind
    Thanks CR, you are so kind and supportive. Thank you for the prayers. You are correct no one knows how long they have except God. But I sort of felt like a pack of sandwich meat, with an expiration date - it honestly blew me away! An my husband has become so depressed - but I go out side and look at the roses and listened to the birds sing, and pray and it refreshes my soul.
  • ladygardner
    ladygardner Member Posts: 15
    #16
    Moopy23 said:

    Ladygardner
    I am so sorry to hear of the recurrence! It is a fear we all have. But, I agree with Patty and Jackie. Do not let the doctors' prognosis be the last word. So many times people surprise doctors and live many years beyond medical expectations. There is more than medicine involved in a person's life and destiny.

    My thoughts and prayers are with you.

    Thank you, miracles happen
    Thank you, miracles happen every day and if it's God's will, I will win this battle. Your prayers are so very much appreciated.
  • ladygardner
    ladygardner Member Posts: 15
    #17
    taleena said:

    I am so sorry to hear what
    I am so sorry to hear what you are going through... but I agree with the others.... Unless you have an expiration date stamped across your forehead... the doctors are giving you statistical information... YOU ARE NOT A STATISTIC you are a woman... with a life, who is a fighter.. and who can hold on to hope...

    I am glad that they made modifications to your medications... and that you are feeling better... You will be in my prayers...

    Hugs to you my friend..

    ~T

    Hi, T - you are so right but
    Hi, T - you are so right but when you hear it the first time it just knocks you down. I have a great doctor, he calls his patients his "angels" and is working 6 and 7 day weeks. I appreciate your prayers and hugs, God bless.
  • ladygardner
    ladygardner Member Posts: 15
    #18
    Akiss4me said:

    Lady...
    A word of encouragement...When I had my surgery, my surgeon did not like the looks of my tumor and sent it off to be tested. Well, they ran the OncotypeDX test and they were expecting a very high score (due to visual). It turned out to be the lowest score recorded yet!! From 1 to 100 my score was less than a 1!! They thought there was a mistake so they rechecked the data, etc. No mistake. And as my shocked but excited surgeon said...."somebody has to be a first!"
    My point being that there are always exceptions. True, Doctors rely on data for their statistics, but they can't know for sure....it is only their best guess. Many people prove them wrong. I believe in miracles because I have been blessed in my life to have witnessed them. I believe it was a miracle that my score could have possibly been that low.
    Keep your chin up. Stay calm, be strong, and believe in miracles. You sound like a fighter, Lady, so get out there and show them that there are exceptions. We are here to walk with you and cheer you on when ever you need us to. And we are always willing to do it joyfully!! :) Pammy

    Wow, Pammy that's wonderful
    Wow, Pammy that's wonderful and most encouraging. I have improved a great deal - my last treatment was mild compared to the others. I don't start again until the 14th - he gave me a week off to rest. I, too, believe in miracles and know that what ever the outcome it is God's will. Thank you for your kindness.
  • LRM216
    LRM216 Member Posts: 26
    #19
    There but for the grace of God........
    I want to tell you just how sorry I am to hear of the second cancer. Please, please to to the Breastcancer.org forum and sign in there. Go to the Stage IV thread and meet all the ladies alive and well 5 and 10 years since they were restaged at IV. Run, don't walk and all my blessing and well wishes for you.

    Linda
  • ladygardner
    ladygardner Member Posts: 15
    #20
    RE said:

    There is always hope!
    Let me tell you that the docs do not know for sure, it is an educated guess they are not God and cannot say for sure when your time here on earth will end. In 1997 I had stage 2 bc, had a lumpectomy 6 rounds of chemo and 6 weeks of rads, 6 months later it returned in my left chest wall and my sentinel lymph node, I was now a stage 4 with less than 35 percent chance of survival. I had 18 more rounds of chemo and 10 more weeks of rads.....I was cancer free for 9 years. It returned as a totally new and different form of bc in the opposite breast which I chose to have removed, I then did 4 more rounds of chemo. I have been in remission for 2 years and plan to enjoy every day I am here. I consider cancer a chronic illness that flares up now and again at which time I must fight with every ounce of my being to survive. Keep fighting Ladygardner and keep us updated, we are here for you and I will be praying for you!

    HUGS,

    RE

    Oh RE, you are a walking
    Oh RE, you are a walking miracle! I am amazed - I will definately keep fighting, and thank you for such an encouraging testimony - Prayers are appreciated and I will send them back to you. Gee, that's amazing!
  • ladygardner
    ladygardner Member Posts: 15
    #21
    mgm42 said:

    You've got them...... and more
    You have my thoughts, my prayers and whole lot more. I believe that prayer does help and you are going to be getting a boat load. Hang in there kiddo. Hugs, Marilynn

    Thanks Marilynn, I agree
    Thanks Marilynn, I agree prayer is the answer - and determination. Gee, I feel better already with all this encouragement. Bless you.

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